1, 2. Nguluphi luhambo Pawula lebekumele alutsatsa, futsi ngukuphi kukhatsateka lokungenteka bekanako?

 PAWULA solo ucabanga ngemavi lashiwo nguFestusi, ngobe atawutsintsa loko lokutawenteka kuye esikhatsini lesitako. UMbusi Festusi bekatsite: “Utakuya kuye [Khesari].” Pawula sewucitse iminyaka lemibili avalelwe ejele, ngako loluhambo loludze loluya eRoma belutawuba yintfo leyehlukile kunalokuvalelwa ejele. (Imis. 25:12) Nobe kunjalo, loko Pawula lakukhumbulako ngekuhamba ngemkhumbi kufaka ekhatsi lokungetulu nje kwemoya lomnandzi kanye nekubona tindzawo letinhle. Njengobe atsatsa loluhambo lwekuyovela embikwaKhesari, kungenteka bekatibuta imibuto lematima ngelikusasa lakhe.

² Pawula uke waba ‘setingotini elwandle’ tikhatsi letinyenti, wasindza ekuphukelweni ngumkhumbi tikhatsi letintsatfu, futsi wacitsa busuku nemini elwandle. (2 Khor. 11:25, 26) Nobe kunjalo, loluhambo latalutsatsa nyalo lwehlukile; alufani neluhambo lebekalutsatsa ngesikhatsi asitfunywa selivangeli futsi akhululekile. Kuloluhambo lolu, Pawula utawuhamba asiboshwa, futsi lutawutsatsa emakhilomitha langetulu kwa-3 000 kusuka eKhesariya kuya eRoma. Utawukhona yini kutsatsa luhambo loludze kangaka futsi afike lapho aya khona aphephile? Nangabe efika aphephile, utawehlulelwa ngekulunga yini? Khumbula kutsi utawube ehlulelwa yinkhosi lebeyinemandla kakhulu emhlabeni ngaleso sikhatsi kulelive laSathane.

3. Yini Pawula bekatimisele kuyenta, futsi yini lesitawucoca ngayo kulesehluko?

³ Kuko konkhe loku lesesikufundze ngaPawula, ucabanga kutsi wakhatsateka kakhulu yini waze waphelelwa litsemba ngenca yaloko lobekungenteka kumvelele? Akubonakali kunjalo! Bekati kutsi utawubhekana nebumatima, kodvwa angati kutsi bumatima baluphi luhlobo. Besingekho sidzingo sekulahlekelwa yinjalulo yakhe, atikhatsate ngetintfo lebekangeke akhone kutilawula. (Mat. 6:27, 34) Pawula bekati kutsi intsandvo yaJehova ngaye beyikutsi asebentise lonkhe litfuba kuze ashumayele tindzaba letimnandzi teMbuso waNkulunkulu, ngisho nakubabusi belive. (Imis. 9:15) Bekatimisele kwenta loko bekatfunywe kona ngisho nobe kungentekani. Lena akusiyo yini indlela natsi lesitimisele ngayo lamuhla? Ngako, asilandzele Pawula njengobe atsatsa loluhambo, futsi sibone kutsi yini lesingayifundza esibonelweni sakhe.

4. Pawula wahamba ngaluphi luhlobo lwemkhumbi nakacala loluhambo lwakhe, futsi bobani bangani bakhe lebekanabo?

⁴ Pawula kanye naletinye tiboshwa bebanakekelwa yindvodza lengumRoma lobekutsiwa nguJuliyasi, leyakhetsa kugibela umkhumbi lolayisha imitfwalo lebewufike eKhesariya. Lomkhumbi bewuchamuka e-Adramithiyamu, lokusikhumulo lesisenshonalanga nelugu lwase-Asia Minor. Lesikhumulo besibukene nelidolobha laseMithilene lelisesichingini iLesbos. Lomkhumbi bewutawubheka enyakatfo bese ujikela enshonalanga, uhambe uma kuze wehlise futsi ulayishe imitfwalo. Imikhumbi lefana nalona beyingakentelwa kugibelisa bantfu, ikakhulukati tiboshwa. (Buka libhokisi lelitsi “ Kuhamba Ngemkhumbi Kanye Netindzawo Tekutsengisa Lebewutihamba.”) Lokujabulisako kutsi bekungasuye Pawula yedvwa umKhristu emkhatsini walelicembu letigebengu. Lamanye emaKhristu lebekahamba nawo bekungu-Aristakhusi kanye naLukha, lebebampheleketela. NguLukha lowabhala lokulandzisa. Asati kutsi labangani baPawula lababili labetsembekile balubhadalela yini loluhambo lwabo nobe batenta tisebenti taPawula.​—Imis. 27:1, 2.

5. Ngubuphi budlelwane Pawula labujabulela eSidoni, futsi yini tsine lesingayifundza kubo?

⁵ Ngemuva kwekucitsa lilanga linye elwandle, nekuhamba emakhilomitha langaba ngu-110 babheke enyakatfo, lomkhumbi wema eSidoni, elugwini lwaseSiriya. Kubonakala shengatsi Juliyasi bekangamtsatsi Pawula njengesiboshwa lesivamile, lokungenteka bekubangelwa kutsi Pawula bekanebuve baseRoma futsi bekasengakalahlwa licala. (Imis. 22:27, 28; 26:31, 32) Juliyasi wavumela Pawula kutsi ehle emkhunjini kuze ayobona bazalwane bakhe. Kufanele kube labazalwane nabodzadze bajabula kakhulu ngekunakekela lomphostoli njengobe besekanesikhatsi lesidze aboshiwe! Sikhona yini simo longacabanga ngaso lapho ungakhombisa umoya wekungenisa tihambi lofana nalona lowaboniswa Pawula futsi ngaleyondlela kukholwa kwakho kuciniswe?​—Imis. 27:3.

6-8. Lwaba njani luhambo lwaPawula kusuka eSidoni kuya eKhinidusi, futsi ngumaphi ematfuba lokungenteka wawasebentisa kuze ashumayele?

⁶ Lomkhumbi wesuka elwandle lwaseSidoni,  wachubeka, wendlula eSilisiya, dvutane neThasusi, lokulidolobha Pawula lakhulela kulo. Kute Lukha lakushoko mayelana nekutsi lomkhumbi waphindze wema, kodvwa washo lokutsite lokukhatsatako. Watsi: “Umoya bewusivimbela.” (Imis. 27:4, 5) Nobe kunjalo, singambona Pawula ngeliso lengcondvo asebentisa onkhe ematfuba kuze ashumayele tindzaba letimnandzi. Siyaciniseka kutsi washumayela letiboshwa lebekanato kanye nalabanye lebebagibele lomkhumbi, lokufaka ekhatsi labo labasebenta emkhunjini, emasotja kanye nebantfu lebekababona lapho lomkhumbi bewufike ume khona. Tsine lamuhla siwasebentisa ngendlela lefanako yini ematfuba ekushumayela lasivulekelako?

⁷ Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, lomkhumbi wefika eMira, lokusikhumulo semikhumbi lesiseningizimu ne-Asia Minor. Batsi nabefika lapho, Pawula kanye nalabo lebekahamba nabo kwadzingeka bagibele lomunye umkhumbi, lebewutabamikisa eRoma lapho bebaya khona. (Imis. 27:6) Ngalawo malanga, iRoma beyitfola kolo lomnyenti eGibhithe, futsi imikhumbi leminyenti yaseGibhithe lebeyilayisha lokolo beyima eMira. Juliyasi wabona lomkhumbi futsi watjela emasotja kanye netiboshwa kutsi tiwugibele. Lomkhumbi bewumkhulu kunalona lebebawugibele ekucaleni. Lomkhumbi bewulayishe umtfwalo lobalulekile, lokungukolo, kanye nebantfu labangu-276, lokufaka ekhatsi labasebenta kulomkhumbi, emasotja, tiboshwa kanye nalabanye bantfu lebebaya eRoma. Kuyacaca kutsi ngalokushintjashintja imikhumbi, bantfu Pawula lebekatabashumayela bandza, futsi siyaciniseka kutsi walisebentisa kahle lelotfuba.

⁸ Ngalokulandzelako, lomkhumbi wema eKhinidusi leseningizimu nenshonalanga ye-Asia Minor. Umoya nawuvuma, umkhumbi bewungatsatsa lilanga kusuka eKhinidusi uye e-Asia Minor. Nobe kunjalo, Lukha utsi, “Ngemuva kwekuhamba kancane emalangana, sefika kalukhuni eKhinidusi.” (Imis. 27:7a) Simo selitulu elwandle besisibi. (Buka libhokisi lelitsi “ Umoya Lomubi Elwandle IMedithera.”) Cabanga ngebantfu labakulomkhumbi njengobe wetama kuhamba kulomoya lomkhulu nakulamagagasi latfukutsele.

9, 10. Ngubuphi bumatima lobabakhona nasebasedvute naseKhrethe?

⁹ Lokapteni walomkhumbi wancuma kuchubeka abheka enshonalanga njengobe asuka eKhinidusi, kodvwa Lukha, fakazi wekutibonela, utsi: “Umoya bewusivimbela.” (Imis. 27:7b) Njengobe lomkhumbi bewuya ngekuya ukwesha elugwini, kwaba nemoya lonemandla lowawufuca kusuka enyakatfo wawubhekisa ngaseningizimu, futsi kungenteka loko kwenteka ngesivinini lesikhulu. Njengobe nje sihlenge saseSiphrosi savikela lomkhumbi emoyeni lomubi ekucaleni, nyalo besewutawuvikelwa sihlenge saseKhrethe. Watsi lomkhumbi nawendlula eSalmone, lokuyindzawo lesekugcineni kwemphumalanga yeKhrethe, simo sacala kuba ncono. Leni? Lomkhumbi besewutawuba ngaseningizimu yalesihlenge, ngako besewutawuvikeleka kulomoya lonemandla. Cabanga ngendlela labo lebebagibele lomkhumbi lokungenteka bativa ngayo simo nasiba ncono! Nobe kunjalo, loku bekukwesikhashana. Njengobe lomkhumbi bewuseselwandle, bacondzisi bawo bebangeke bakutsatse kancane kusondzela kwebusika. Bebanesizatfu sekukhatsateka.

¹⁰ Lukha uyiveta ngendlela lenembile lendzaba. Utsi: “Sahamba kamatima [kwendlula eKhrethe] saze sefika endzaweni lokutsiwa Sikhumulo Sekuphepha.” Ngisho nobe bebangekho khashane nelugu, bekumatima kulawula lomkhumbi. Nobe kunjalo, ekugcineni batfola indzawo yekumisa lomkhumbi elugwini loluncane lokucatjangwa kutsi  lisendzaweni lesekoneni nawutawujikela enyakatfo. Bema sikhatsi lesinganani lapho? Lukha utsi kwaba “sikhatsi lesidze.” Nobe kunjalo, sikhatsi lebesesibasalele besilinganiselwe. Besekutawuba yingoti kakhulu ngaSeptember nanga-October kuhamba ngemkhumbi.​—Imis. 27:8, 9.

11. Ngusiphi seluleko Pawula lasiniketa labo lebekahamba nabo emkhunjini, kodvwa bona batsatsa siphi sincumo?

¹¹ Kungenteka labanye lebebasemkhunjini bacela seluleko kuPawula njengobe besekanelwati lolunyenti mayelana nendlela yekuhamba eMedithera. Wasikisela kutsi lomkhumbi ungachubeki neluhambo. Nangabe bewutawuhamba, bekutawuba “nemonakalo lomkhulu,” mhlawumbe kuze kufe nebantfu. Nobe kunjalo, lokapteni kanye nemnikati walomkhumbi bebafuna kuchubeka naloluhambo, lokungenteka bebacabanga kutsi kuyaphutfuma kufika endzaweni lephephile. Bakhuluma naJuliyasi, wavuma, futsi bantfu labanyenti bebafisa kufika eFeniksi, lokusikhumulo lesiseceleni kwelugu. Kungenteka lesikhumulo besisikhulu futsi sisesimeni lesikahle kutsi bantfu bangahlala khona ebusika. Ngako, kwatsi nakuvakala umoyana lochamuka eningizimu, bakhohliseka futsi bahamba.​—Imis. 27:10-13.

12. Ngemuva kwekusuka eKhrethe, lomkhumbi wahlangabetana natiphi tingoti, futsi yini bacondzisi bawo labetama kuyenta kuze babalekele inhlekelele lebeyingenteka?

¹² Kwabese kuvela lenye inkinga. Kwabonakala ‘siphepho’ sichamuka enyakatfo nemphumalanga. Kwaphela sikhatsi lesitsite bavikelwe sihlenge “lesincane lesibitwa ngekutsi yiKhawuda” lebeyikhashane ngemakhilomitha langu-65 nawusuka eSikhumulweni Sekuphepha. Nobe kunjalo, lomkhumbi bewusengotini yekutsatfwa ngulomoya uwubhekise eningizimu lapho bewungafike ushayise esihlabatsini saselugwini lwase-Afrika. Kuze bavikele loko, labacondzisi balomkhumbi lebebatfukile, baphakamisa sikebhe lebesidvonswa ngulomkhumbi kuze basifake kuwo. Kwaba ngumzukuzuku ngobe kubonakala shengatsi lesikebhe besesigcwele emanti. Ngemuva kwaloko, basiphalata kamatima sebetama kubopha lomkhumbi lomkhulu, bawugigeletela ngetintsambo nome emaketane kuze emapulango awo angehlukani. Behlisa netintfo tekubamba liseyila lelikhulu kuze bagcine lomkhumbi uhamba ngisho nangetulu kwalesiphepho. Cabanga nje indlela lokungenteka bekwetfusa ngayo kuba kulesimo! Yonkhe lemetamo ayizange iphumelele ngobe “lesiphepho besisolo siwuphephula lomkhumbi.” Ngelilanga lesitsatfu, labacondzisi balomkhumbi balahla tintsambo talomkhumbi, lokungenteka bebafuna lomkhumbi ungacwili.​—Imis. 27:14-19.

13. Kungenteka kutsi besinjani simo emkhunjini Pawula lebekakuwo ngesikhatsi kunesiphepho?

¹³ Kungenteka bonkhe bebesaba, kodvwa Pawula nalebekahamba nabo bebanesibindzi. Ngaphambilini, iNkhosi beyicinisekise Pawula kutsi bekatawuniketa bufakazi eRoma, futsi kamuva ingilosi yasigcizelela leso setsembiso. (Imis. 19:21; 23:11) Nobe kunjalo, lesiphepho besingakatibeki phansi. Sahlasela busuku nemini emaviki lamabili. Ngenca yekutsi imvula beyina ingakhawuli nenkhungu ikhasa phansi, kukhanya kwelilanga nekwetinkhanyeti bekungasabonakali, futsi umshayeli walomkhumbi bekangasaboni kutsi ukuphi futsi ubhekephi. Bekute ngisho nesikhatsi sekudla. Ngubani nje lobekangacabanga kudla kube kubhoke emakhata, imvula, kukhatsateka kanye nekwesaba?

14, 15. (a) Yini leyenta Pawula wakhumbuta lebebanaye emkhunjini ngesecwayiso sakhe lebekasishito ekucaleni? (b) Yini lesingayifundza kulomlayeto welitsemba Pawula lawuniketa?

¹⁴ Pawula wasukuma, wase uphindza secwayiso lebekasisho ekucaleni, kodvwa  bekungasiko kutsi ngalamavi akhe bekacondze kubatjela kutsi, ‘Nginitjelile.’ Kunaloko, lebekusandza kwenteka bekubufakazi bekutsi lebekakushito bekufanele kulalelwe. Wabese utsi: “Banini nesibindzi ngobe kute ngisho namunye kini lotawulimala, ngaphandle nje kwalomkhumbi.” (Imis. 27:21, 22) Kufanele kube lamavi abadvudvuta kakhulu labo lebebalalele Pawula! Naye Pawula kungenteka wajabula kakhulu ngekutsi Jehova bekamnikete lomlayeto welitsemba kuze awutjele labanye. Kubalulekile kukhumbula kutsi Jehova ukhatsalela wonkhe muntfu. Wonkhe umuntfu ubalulekile kuye. Umphostoli Phetro wabhala: “Jehova . . . akafisi kutsi kubhubhe ngisho namunye, kepha ufisa kutsi bonkhe bantfu baphendvuke.” (2 Phet. 3:9) Ngako-ke, kuphutfuma kakhulu kutsi sitjele bantfu lesingakhona kubafinyelela ngemlayeto waJehova welitsemba! Kuphila kwebantfu lokuligugu kusengotini.

¹⁵ Kungenteka Pawula bekafakaze kubantfu labanyenti emkhunjini ‘ngesetsembiso Nkulunkulu lasenta.’ (Imis. 26:6; Khol. 1:5) Nyalo, njengobe besebasengotini yekuphukelwa ngumkhumbi, Pawula bekangabaniketa sicinisekiso lesicinile selitsemba. Watsi: “Ebusuku ingilosi . . . , ifike yema eceleni kwami, yatsi, ‘Ungesabi Pawula. Wena kufanele ume embikwaKhesari, futsi Nkulunkulu utabasindzisa bonkhe laba lohamba nabo.’” Pawula wabese uyabacela utsi: “Ngako-ke, banini nesibindzi ngobe ngiyetsemba kutsi Nkulunkulu utawenta njengobe angitjelile. Nanobe kunjalo, sitawuphukelwa ngumkhumbi kulesinye sihlenge.”​—Imis. 27:23-26.

16, 17. (a) Pawula wasebentisa liphi litfuba kuze athantaze, futsi waba yini umphumela? (b) Secwayiso saPawula sagcwaliseka njani?

¹⁶ Ngemuva kwemaviki lamabili letfusako, njengobe lomkhumbi bewuhamba emakhilomitha langaba ngu-870, bacondzisi bawo beva lushintjo, lokungenteka beva emagagasi ashaya elugwini. Bajika emahhuka awo langemuva emantini futsi bacondzisa lingembili lawo elugwini kuze bakwati kuwumisa. Kulesikhatsi, betama kwehla kulomkhumbi, kodvwa lamasotja abavimba. Pawula watsi kulamasotja: “Nangabe lamadvodza ehla kulomkhumbi, ngeke nisindze.” Njengobe simo besesicala kuthulela, Pawula wancenga bonkhe lebebagibele kutsi badle, futsi waphindze wabacinisekisa kutsi batawusindza. Pawula waphindze “wathantaza kuNkulunkulu embikwabo bonkhe.” (Imis. 27:31, 35) Kwenta kwakhe lomthantazo wekubonga kwabekela boLukha, Aristakhusi kanye nemaKhristu alamuhla sibonelo. Imithantazo yakho iyabakhutsata futsi ibadvudvute yini labanye?

¹⁷ Watsi Pawula nakacedza kuthantaza, “bonkhe baba nesibindzi, nabo base bayadla.” (Imis. 27:36) Ngemuva kwaloko, bajika imitfwalo yakolo emantini kuze lomkhumbi ube lula futsi ukwati kuhamba ufike elugwini. Kwatsi nakusa, labo lebebasebenta kulomkhumbi bajuba emahhuka awo, bakhipha tindvuku tekugwedla letingembili futsi baphakamisa liseyili lelincane lelingembili kuze bakwati kulawula lomkhumbi uze ume. Ngemuva kwaloko, lingembili lalomkhumbi labhajwa, mhlawumbe esihlabatsini nobe eludzakeni, futsi lingembili lalomkhumbi lacala kwephuka. Lamanye emasotja bekafuna kubulala letiboshwa kuze kungabikho nasinye lesiphunyulako, kodvwa Juliyasi wangenela kuze ativikele. Wacela wonkhe umuntfu kutsi ahlambe nobe ahambe ngeticucu temapulangwe aye elugwini. Loko Pawula lebekakhushito kusengaphambili kwaba liciniso, bonkhe bongu-276 basindza. Kuliciniso kutsi, “bonkhe befika elugwini baphephile.” Nobe kunjalo, bebakuphi nendzawo?​—Imis. 27:44.

18-20. Bantfu baseMaltha ‘babaphatsa njani kahle’ boPawula, futsi ngusiphi sibonakaliso Nkulunkulu lasenta asebentisa Pawula?

¹⁸ Kwabese kuyatfolakala kutsi labantfu bebaseMaltha, enyakatfo neSicily. (Buka libhokisi lelitsi “ IMalta​—Ikuphi?”) Bantfu labakhuluma lolunye lulwimi lebebahlala  kulesihlenge ‘babaphatsa kahle kakhulu’ boPawula. (Imis. 28:2) Ngisho nobe bebangabati, bababasela umlilo ngobe bebamanti futsi bachucha. Lomlilo wabasita kutsi bafutfumale njengobe bekumakhata futsi lina. Kuba khona kwawo kwaveta litfuba lekutsi kwentiwe sibonakaliso.

¹⁹ Pawula wenta lokutsite lobekutawusita wonkhe umuntfu lobekalapho. Wabutsa tinkhuni futsi watifaka emlilweni. Njengobe enta njalo, kwavela inyoka lenebutsi yamluma, futsi yatigocotela esandleni sakhe. Bantfu baseMaltha bebacabanga kutsi loku kungenca yekutsi Nkulunkulu uyamjezisa. a

²⁰ Labantfu bendzawo lababona kutsi Pawula ulunywe ngulenyoka “bebalindzele kutsi avuvuke.” Ngekusho kwalenye incwadzi yekucwaninga, ligama lelulwimi lwekucala lelitfolakala lana “lisetjentiswa kutekwelashwa.” Loku akumangalisi ngobe kungenteka leligama lavele lafika kamelula nje kuLukha “longudokotela lotsandzekako.” (Imis. 28:6; Khol. 4:14) Kunobe ngabe ngukuphi, Pawula wavitsita lenyoka lenebutsi, futsi ayizange imlimate.

21. (a) Ngutiphi letinye tibonelo lesititfola kulencenye yekulandzisa kwaLukha letiveta kunemba nobe kushaya emhlolweni? (b) Ngutiphi timangaliso Pawula latenta, futsi loko kwaba namuphi umphumela kubantfu baseMaltha?

²¹ Umnikati wemasimu lonjingile lokutsiwa nguPhupliyuse bekahlala kulendzawo. Kungenteka bekasiphatsimandla semaRoma lebesibuke iMaltha. Lukha umchaza ngekutsi ‘yindvodza lebeyingumholi kulesihlenge,’ futsi ngaleyondlela wasebentisa sicu lesifana ncamashi naleso lesatfolakala emiculwini yaseMaltha lemibili. Wemukela Pawula nalabo lebekahamba nabo futsi wahlala nabo emalanga lamatsatfu. Nobe kunjalo, babe waPhupliyuse bekagula. Nakulesimo, Lukha wachaza lokugula ngendlela lenembile. Ngesikhatsi achaza loko lobabe lobekumphetse mbambambamba, Lukha watsi, “bekalele phansi, aphetfwe ngumkhuhlane futsi ahanjiswa sisu.” Pawula wabeka tandla takhe etikwalendvodza, wayithantazela futsi yaphila. Bantfu bendzawo bamangala kakhulu nababona loku, ngako baletsa labanye bantfu labagulako kuze belashwe, futsi baletsa tipho kuze benetise tidzingo taPawula nalabo lebekahamba nabo.​—Imis. 28:7-10.

22. (a) Lomunye cwepheshe wakudvumisa njani kulandzisa kwaLukha lokumayelana neluhambo lwekuya eRoma? (b) Yini lesitawucoca ngayo esehlukweni lesilandzelako?

²² Lencenye yeluhambo lwaPawula lesesicoce ngayo kuze kube ngunyalo icuketse tentakalo letibhalwe ngalokunembile naletiliciniso. Lomunye cwepheshe watsi: “Kulandzisa kwaLukha . . . kungulenye yetincenye teliBhayibheli leticacile naletichazwe kahle. Imininingwane yako lemayelana nekusetjentiswa kwemikhumbi kwangelikhulu lekucala inembile futsi ikuveta kahle loko lebekwenteka emphumalanga yeMedithera,” kangangekutsi kubonakala shengatsi lemininingwane beyisuselwa encwadzini yetentakalo telilanga nelilanga. Kungenteka Lukha bekabhala lencwadzi yetentakalo ngesikhatsi ahamba nalomphostoli. Nangabe kunjalo, incenye lelandzelako yaloluhambo yamniketa lokunye lokunyenti lebekatawubhala ngako. Yini lebeyitawenteka kuPawula ekugcineni nabefika eRoma? Asesibone.